SS4544 SyncroStep Motion Control SystemApplication Note 105 - Setting up an Axis on the SS4544Testra Corporation 1201 N. Stadem Drive Tempe, AZ 85281 Ph:(480)560-6141
Fax:(480)907-2876GO TO HOME PAGE Reminder - There is HELP
every step of the way. Hit the F1 key . It will bring up the
proper help for each and every menu selection. The first time you
start up the system, the 1.Help
selection of the ssDEMO
Main Menu will be highlighted. Hit the F1
key for an overview of how to run the menu system.

Overview

You should start this process either with no motors
connected to the system, or with the SSdemo system set in DEMO mode, or immediately
go to Motion Setup from the Main Menu after startup
of SSdemo.

From Motion Setup first select MPM Files.
This will bring up a dialog box.You can use some other parameter
set for your starting parameters, and edit them to match your new axis.
The current MPM parameter set name will be displayed. For example get
the MPMDEMO Parameter Set. Click on Change then hit F1
on your keyboard. A list of MPM files will be displayed. Using
the Up/Down Arrows on your keyboard, move the highlight bar to MPMDEMO, then
hit the Enter Key twice. Now click on Restore which
will load the Parameter Set. Next click on Change again,
but this time hit the Delete Key, then type in your name for your new Parameter
Set followed by the Enter Key. Now click on Save.
You now have a new parameter set that you can edit. Hit an Escape Key
which takes you back to the Motion Setup menu. Next select 2.System
Parameters which will give you access to the axes parameters.

At this point the recommended strategy, is to set all
axes to a safe condition, and enter as many parameters as possible with the
data at hand, leaving all axes turned off except the first one you are going
to debug. The most important parameters to set for each axis are:
Axis Power - so you don't accidentally overpower a motor and
burn it up; Step Distance - all other parameters for
the axis use this to base their units on. If you change this later,
all of your other parameters will change; Encoder & Flags/Enable
to turn off all but the first axis you are going to debug.

After this is done, escape back to the main menu.
Make sure you save your new parameters on exiting. You can then go
live with the machine. From the ssDEMO Main Menu select
3.System Setup then 1.Menu Options. Make
sure 1.Demo Mode is OFF then escape back to the System
Setup Menu. Next select 3.Comm Port Parameters
and make sure the port you are going to use is set properly.
The default is Comm 1, 38.4 k baud, 8 bit, 1 stop, parity OFF. You
can then escape back to the Main Menu. At this point
make sure the serial cable is connected from your Comm port to the SS4544
and that the box is powered up. If so, hit the Escape Key one more
time. This will cause the SSdemo system to restart, and initialize
the SS4544 system. Otherwise you can just leave by hitting 8.Exit
this Program and everything will be saved so that the next time you
start up SS, it will initialize the SS4544 box correctly.

Next debug your parameter set using the 5.Hardware
Diagnostics menu reached from the ssDEMO Main Menu.
When you enter this menu, the parameter set that you have now created will
be downloaded to the SS4544 box. Next select the first axis that you
want to work on by selecting 3.Evaluations then the axis you
are going to work on. For example 1.Evaluate-X.
By this time you should have become somewhat familiar with the mechanics of
getting around the menu system, so from this point on, the discussion will
be more generalized.